GameZone's Reviews
EA's NHL 16 is an improvement in every way over NHL 15. But there was really only room to go upwards. Some people will love the gameplay, others won't. It's really something you have to play and tweak.
On one hand, those coming in from past Rock Band will ease right into the new game. All past DLC is there, legacy controller support is there, and a suite of customizable gameplay options make it one of the most user friendly rhythm games to date. However, for those that are investing in Rock Band 4 for the first time, will find a rather slim track list on disc, one that they'll certainly want to increase in size with DLC.
If you're just looking for a good hack and slasher, with a decent story, fantastic voice acting and some solid gameplay, Darksiders II is definitely worth checking out. However, if you're looking to get more out of the game, like satisfaction from the narrative, know you're only really getting half the experience here
Fatal Frame: Maiden of Black Water is not your typical jump-scare-laden horror game. It blends classic survival horror elements with Japanese ghost stories that focus on the feelings of terror and dread. There's no point where you'll be horrified into leaving or quitting. Instead, you'll be subjected to a constant feeling of unease, waiting for the jump scares that may never come and wondering if you really saw something or if the game is just getting to you.
It's a must-play for Warriors fans and Dragon Quest fans alike, but I wouldn't discount fans of neither. This seems like a perfect gateway title for those who might want to give these kinds of games a shot.
Sword Coast Legends functions more as a second tier cRPG that scratches the itch, but doesn't do anything to push the genre forward.
Not many games can capture the players attention as well as Tales of Zestiria managed to do for me. Yes, they're a couple flaws that hold back the game, but in the grand scheme of things, Tales of Zestiria has to be one of the best JRPGs of 2015.
Transformers: Devastation gets an Energon powered recommendation from us.
While NBA Live 16 is a step forward in some areas, it's still hard to recommend over other basketball video games on the market. Until gameplay doesn't feel so stiff, NBA Live will feel like an 8th seed in the Eastern Conference -- in on the action, but not much hope to advance in the playoffs.
From the start, it would have been appropriate to show cautious optimism by reason of track record, and following my time with Adventure Time: Finn & Jake Investigations, cautious optimism is still an appropriate course of action. Investigations doesn't possess fresh ideas, but there are moments that make the experience an enjoyable one. It's just too bad they aren't the majority. While I would advise against spending top dollar, there's an amusing but flawed experience to be had in Investigations that, if nothing else, will provide a few laughs.
Amazing setting, entertaining protagonists, well-written dialogue and some truly fun new gameplay mechanics make Syndicate shine above the rest. It may not match the excitement of being a pirate assassin on the open seas of the Caribbean, but Syndicate proves that perhaps this eight year old franchise still has some new tricks up its sleeve.
It's a game for kids, sure, but adults can easily find a lot to love about this game, and the franchise as a whole. It's nice that this time around players aren't expected to buy every single vehicle to unlock everything in the story mode, but seriously, how can you resist Shark Tank?!
I don't usually recommend buying a console for a video game, and when I do, the core game has to be so stellar, so addicting, that the thought of not having the console to play it would drive you mad. I didn't say that for Rise of the Tomb Raider. I am, however, saying it for Xenoblade Chronicles X.
Wasteland 2: Director's Cut is the best version of an already very good game. For console players that have missed out on the game over the last year, Director's Cut is a great opportunity to get a taste of a true C-RPG made to work with a controller. For PC players who already own the game, Director's Cut comes as a free upgrade, so everybody will be getting the best possible version of the game.
Guitar Hero Live is a wonderful evolution of the music genre. Everything from presentation, to mechanics, to the new controller was an advancement for the better. Whether or not this picks up steam with the gaming crowd is left to be seen, but the effort on both FreeStyle Games and Activision is apparent.
It's nice to know that Travelers' Tales has built on the extremely popular toys-to-life formula, and put their own spin on it, rather than simply copying their competition.
PC players who have already delved into Original Sin get the Enhanced Edition free, which comes with all the new goodies as well, so it's worth revisiting there as well. However, the biggest triumph is that console owners will get to experience this otherwise PC-centric title with fantastically translated controls, stellar voiceovers for all characters, and some gorgeous graphics for good measure.
The VerdictJust Cause 3 is a great game. It's a fantastic game even. The few nitpicks I had with Fast Travel and Supply Drops are issues I was willing to overlook. But I can't in good conscience recommend this game to anyone at the moment, not while the performance issues are so bad.
Don't be fooled, the positives might have outweighed the negatives in terms of word-count on the previous page, but FIFA 16 still has room for improvement.
If you've enjoyed Crystal Dynamics' reboot, then chances are you'll love Rise of the Tomb Raider that much more. Lara's latest adventure is bigger and better in nearly every way. The settings and environments are bigger, the tombs are plentiful, the combat is exciting and Lara herself is once again brought to life thanks to Camilla Luddington's fantastic performance.